After acquiring rooms for the group the quartet break off and do some solo discovering of the town.
Saulric goes to the craftsmen area of the town looking about for a stall to rent disguised as a common worker after finding an alley to change his guise.
Szordrin looks about for some magic stores or stalls in the market area. He finds a store where he can purchase components and a few places for scrolls, books etc.
Elisa would normally be happy for Saulric to make her shirt, but this time wants one quickly, so she'll pay full price for the shirt.
Saulric hands Elisa back her money to go and commission her shirt.
Saulric finds a trustworthy armorsmith in the town and feels confident the man can either make the needed items for the group, or will rent out some space for Saulric to do it himself. The bald fighter believes the fat armorsmith would work faster and make better armor than he could.
Szordrin spends time buying what he needs from different places.
More Rumors gained during your town walkabouts:
Ye Merrie Men are coming to town and the handsome William Marcus Marlow is coming with them! Can you believe it? The Bard of Barrington! Here! They are doing the “Fall of Amberlyn”! Oh, I can’t wait!
They say the bugbears are massing up north. I wonder what their up to? Well, it doesn’t matter! We’ll be ready for ‘em! You’d think those shaggy walking carpets would have learned by now that the Watch Wall is unbreakable!
I heard that gang of thieves that past through here a while back and robbed Old Man Fellers blind, died up north at the hands of wild animals. Serves them right for using disguises to steal from honest folk. The guards should be more careful with outsiders, but not the adventurers who come and go- they bring money in.
Saulric will sit in the tavern drinking and talking to the patrons for the day.
Saulric spends time in the tavern doing what out of work soldiers do and spends the day drinking and telling stories.
Do you know how the Lord’s Dalliance got its name? It was once a brothel! I hear there used to be a secret passage to the basement that allowed the Lord of the Watchtower to sneak in here and have a good time. Of course it must have been sealed up years ago.
I hear Captain Varning is leading another patrol out tomorrow. I wonder how long they’ll be gone this time? The last time they were gone for five days! If you ask me, these patrols are a waste of time. They’re just an excuse for Varning to get out of the tower and gallivant around the country side instead of doing his fair share of guard duty.
Szordrin spends time going into and out of the room and the market place purchasing what magic items and components he needs for his spells while trying not to draw attention to himself.
Elisa and Alaric are doing...?
Alaric, not exactly sure what a squire is supposed to be doing, just hangs about the inn, listening to rumors and chatter... Trying not to interact much with people, just listening to what they have to say to each other.
So the group has spent 2 days scoping the town out, purchasing much needed supplies, upgrading their equipment and sitting around the tavern and other places getting more gossip.
Soldiers today! A worthless, shiftless lot! Balentyne is in total disarray. Soldiers today are too lazy – not like in my day.
They say the bugbears are massing up north. I wonder what their up to? Well, it doesn’t matter! We’ll be ready for ‘em! You’d think those shaggy walking carpets would have learned by now that the Watch Wall is unbreakable!
I’ve heard that Father Donnagin was sent here after the church demoted him from bishop. He got into some sort of trouble – serious trouble I’d wager to be banished to the Watch Wall.
Have you seen Kaitlyn Mott? She’s the most beautiful woman in town! How did an ugly lump of a man like Captain Franz Mott bag a looker like her? And how does he keep her, that’s what I want to know!
Alaric is pleased to hear that Balentyne is in total disarray if that is indeed the case and not just some doomsayer's take on things. He makes a mental note to check out this demoted bishop Donnagin and tell the others about him. Also, this Mott woman may be some kind of exploiter herself, and ripe for creating a little discord in the ranks by corrupting her husband, this Captain Mott. Alone in their rooms later, he will voice his ideas to the group.
Have you had any of Mama Guisseppe’s beef stew? Delicious! I hear she goes up to the Watchtower and cooks a big batch of it for the men every Monday! What a nice old lady.
Here’s to the soldiers of Balentyne! One hundred of the finest fighting men it’s ever been my privilege to serve with.
I hear a raven arrived at the rookery last night! I bet it carried important news though I know not about what.
Did you hear about prisoners escaping from Branderscar? Were they ever caught? I hear the best bounty hunters in the land are after them.
I’ve heard that Father Donnagin was sent here after the church demoted him from bishop. He got into some sort of trouble – serious trouble I’d wager to be banished to the Watch Wall.
Do you know how the Lord’s Dalliance got its name? It was once a brothel! I hear there used to be a secret passage to the basement that allowed the Lord of the Watchtower to sneak in here and have a good time. Of course it must have been sealed up years ago.
After 2 days of running around the town observing people and hearing rumors the group meet up back in their rooms closing and barring the door for added privacy. They begin to discuss their next plan of action.
As the others gather around and start to discuss what they have found out. Szordrin speaks up.
There are several rumors that were uncovered. Some of them I find very interesting...It seems that we have about 100 soldiers in there. The stew being delivered could help us out. The Dalliance can be a great boon to us as well. Do not forget we still have the circlets to help us. I do have spells that I can use to find out if this secret door is valid or not.
"All good leads... but we have to follow up on them of course... I like the idea of drugging the stew.. or poisoning it... and the Dalliance, if it has a secret passage to the Watchtower, could be a great resource to get us in."
Elisa smiles when she hears of the stew. "So many things can go wrong with home cooking." She says lightly.
She frowns a bit when she hears of the Bounty hunters, thankful for the circlet of disguise again. "It's not just the soldiers we need guard for. Subtly and stealth are our friends."
Hmm. We could go ambush the patrol so that no backup will be forthcoming.
I say we take the Dalliance route
A route in is easy if the rumor is true. Our first priority must be weakening them. Poisoning the stew is a good start though I have no such items on me. Killing the patrol will weaken them further. Perhaps we could frame the bounty hunters. Driving them away will be to our advantage.
Elisa smiles mildly. "Let me handle the poison. I have many options that can work on soldiers."
Any other ideas? Once we poison the troops we'll need to strike quickly.
The four brainstorm ideas to complete their task for the bugbear army. The current list of ideas includes poisoning food, seeking the rumored secret passage, ambushing the patrol, and infiltrating the towers by mingling with folks that go to and fro.
Elisa discovers she can purchase the needed ingredients from the local alchemist shop, although buying all of it at once will arouse suspicions. She could also go outside the walls and look for poisonous herbs and roots, but the wilderness has many dangers for a lone woman out walking alone.
Saulric can find out the patrols timeline by spending time in the taverns frequented by the soldiers and loosen their lips with mead.
Szordin and Alaric notice that finding the secret passage, if there is one, leading from the Dalliance to the castle may prove difficult due to the hustle and bustle of activity during the daytime. Being caught at night also leads to problems in either arrested or disposing of whoever catches them.
So many possibilities and some many problems could arise.
Are you certain you want to poison the guards and attack....rumors have those numbers set at 100. This is not about taking them out in one shot of glory. This is about securing the doors for our friends. As of right now we have time and even that is limited. Poison can come in handy but it may lead to to much attention. I say we spend another day confirming our rumors and then formulate a plan.
Agreed. More information provides more opportunities.
Alright then. Lets confirm some things and then come back to the table to make our plans